Requirements and Conditions

The animal has been implanted with a microchip read by a standard microchip reader, i.e. ISO, FECAVA, European/International or AVID-USA chip.

A veterinary health certificate issued within 10 days before your arrival in Bermuda, stating that the animal is not infected with any communicable disease and is free of external parasites. The health certificate must be signed by a licenced veterinarian and contain the following information:

A veterinary statement giving the name of the acaricidal preparation applied during the examination, which is known to have residual activity against ticks, e.g. FrontLine Top Spot®, Ovitrol®, Sectrol®, K9 Advantix®, Vectra 3D®, Proticall®, Kiltix®, Defend Ex-Spot®, Promeris® for Dogs. – NOTE: Advantage®, Sentinel®, Revolution®, Selamectin, Capstar®, Bio-Spot®, Promeris® for Cats, , Comfortis®, shampoos and collars do not qualify.

A veterinary statement that, as best as can be ascertained by your knowledge and through questioning, the animal has not been exposed to rabies nor been present in an officially quarantined rabies area within the last 6 months.

This requirement is not applicable to dogs or cats arriving directly from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or Jamaica: Rabies vaccination history, showing at least two rabies vaccinations, and that all rabies vaccinations have been given by a licensed veterinarian, and are in accord with all of these requirements. The animal:

Upon attaining / after the age of three months, has received a rabies vaccination; and

Received a second rabies vaccine 6-12 months following the first rabies vaccination; and

There have been no significant lapses in vaccinations; and

The most recent vaccination was given at least 30 days, and not more than 12 months prior to arrival.

Dogs and cats under age 10 months, and dogs and cats of any age that have received only a single rabies vaccination, do not qualify for entry into Bermuda.

Veterinarians may only attest to vaccinations given by him/herself, given under his/her direct supervision, and prior vaccinations that are accompanied with original vaccination certificates. Veterinarians cannot attest to vaccines given by non-veterinarians, including owners or breeders.

This requirement is not applicable to dogs or cats arriving directly from the Continental USA or Canada: The animal has not been kept within 30 miles of Foot and Mouth disease during the last 30 days.

When requested by this Department, you will be required to give information regarding the purpose of imported animal, and the location of facility where the animal(s) will be housed. You need not provide this information when you apply.

Resident dogs must be licensed at the main office of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, (Botanical Gardens, Paget) immediately after arrival.

Show dogs and trial animals

The club organizing the show will obtain and distribute an import permit for each participating animal. Contact the club that is hosting the show for all details; you don’t need to contact the Department of Environment and Natural Resources directly.

Restrictions on the importation of certain breeds of dog

There are restrictions on the importation of dogs of certain breeds. The list below will be amended as necessary. You may fill out an Application to Keep Restricted Breeds of Dogs.pdf[2] if you demonstrate exceptional circumstances to justify the importation.

Prohibited Breeds

Restricted Breeds

American Pit Bull Terrier

Akita

American Bulldog

Australian Cattle Dog

American Staffordshire Terrier

Belgian Malinois

Argentine mastiff (Dogo Argentino)

Bouvier des Flandres

Boerboel (South African Mastiff)

Bull Terrier

Brazilian Mastiff (Fila)

Bullmastiff

Cane Corso

Chow Chow

Neapolitan Mastiff

Doberman Pinscher

Presa Canario

Dogue de Bordeaux

Tosa Inu

German Shepherd

Wolf

Mastiff – English

Wolf Hybrid

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Any Cross of the above

Rottweiler

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Any Cross of the above

Prohibited dogs may not be imported, bred or used for breeding.

Restricted dogs may be imported/kept once the conditions for keeping these dogs have been fulfilled by the importer/new keeper. Dogs of these breeds may be bred only following receipt of a Breeder’s permit. New acquisitions of these dogs require pre-approval.

Any rare, exotic or uncommon breed may also be refused permission to enter Bermuda or to be used in breeding despite its absence from the list above.

Regulations for dogs

The acquisition, keeping, breeding, brokering and some uses (guard/security work) of a dog are regulated by legislation.

You can take your dog to most beaches, except public beaches in protected areas between 1 April and 31 October each year.

Licence tags

Dogs must be licensed annually. Your dog must wear its numbered licence tag, which was issued at the time of its initial licensing. Any dog tag can serve as a replacement tag as long as it bears the correct licence number. Find out how to get a dog licence[3].

Acquiring a dog

When acquiring a dog by any means, the seller, breeder or giver should provide you with a valid licence — don’t accept the dog otherwise. The local Society for the Protection against Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will not release a dog for adoption without a licence.

Keeping multiple dogs

Law requires a special permit for keeping more than two dogs on a single premise. This special permit is needed by any person (land owner, landlord or tenant) who owns, resides or controls a premise where the total premise is home to more than two dogs, whether or not the premise contains multiple households. Application to Keep Multiple Dogs.pdf[5].